Yoshida faces win or bust World Cup clash

The Asian champions face early elimination from the tournament in Brazil after failing to live up to expectations in their opening two games.

Japan first conceded a lead to lose to Ivory Coast in their Group C opener and then played out a drab goalless draw with Greece.

Saints defender Yoshida and his Japanese teammates now head into their final group match against already-qualified Colombia in Cuiaba needing to win while hoping Ivory Coast slip up in their simultaneous clash with the Greeks.

"We haven't had enough speed in our play and it's as though the players have been playing with the brakes on," said Japan manager Alberto Zaccheroni. "The problem is probably mental.

"We're not satisfied with our performances so far.

"This team has given lots of joy and satisfaction in previous matches over the past four years, so I'm hoping we can show that good part of our football against Colombia."

Colombia top the group with six points from their opening two games while Ivory Coast have three.

Japan and Greece have a point apiece, with Zaccheroni's men boasting the superior goal difference.

Yet while Japan may hope that Colombia ease up with their place in the last 16 assured, the South American side will want to lay down a further marker of their abilities.

Colombia, back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998, struck three times against Greece and impressed again in their 2-1 defeat of Ivory Coast.

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That has carried them into the knockout phase for the first time since 1990 and the world's eighth-ranked side want to continue the momentum.

Forward James Rodriguez, who has scored in both games so far, said: "Why can't we be the revelation of the tournament? I hope we will be."

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Comments (3)

Well if yoshi gets knocked out of the cup as well we will be left with just one saint left in the competition, and thats a player we thought had missed out. Allez les bleus ;-). Come on Morgan you will get the chance to show the world what we saints fans already know, that you are a true world class player! Can just see you now scoring in the final and bringing home a winners medal. Vive le France.

Well if yoshi gets knocked out of the cup as well we will be left with just one saint left in the competition, and thats a player we thought had missed out. Allez les bleus ;-). Come on Morgan you will get the chance to show the world what we saints fans already know, that you are a true world class player! Can just see you now scoring in the final and bringing home a winners medal. Vive le France.el caballo santos101

Well if yoshi gets knocked out of the cup as well we will be left with just one saint left in the competition, and thats a player we thought had missed out. Allez les bleus ;-). Come on Morgan you will get the chance to show the world what we saints fans already know, that you are a true world class player! Can just see you now scoring in the final and bringing home a winners medal. Vive le France.

Score: 1

Rising_Son says...10:16am Tue 24 Jun 14

el caballo santos101 wrote…

Well if yoshi gets knocked out of the cup as well we will be left with just one saint left in the competition, and thats a player we thought had missed out. Allez les bleus ;-). Come on Morgan you will get the chance to show the world what we saints fans already know, that you are a true world class player! Can just see you now scoring in the final and bringing home a winners medal. Vive le France.

Forgot Gaston.

[quote][p][bold]el caballo santos101[/bold] wrote:
Well if yoshi gets knocked out of the cup as well we will be left with just one saint left in the competition, and thats a player we thought had missed out. Allez les bleus ;-). Come on Morgan you will get the chance to show the world what we saints fans already know, that you are a true world class player! Can just see you now scoring in the final and bringing home a winners medal. Vive le France.[/p][/quote]Forgot Gaston.Rising_Son

el caballo santos101 wrote…

Well if yoshi gets knocked out of the cup as well we will be left with just one saint left in the competition, and thats a player we thought had missed out. Allez les bleus ;-). Come on Morgan you will get the chance to show the world what we saints fans already know, that you are a true world class player! Can just see you now scoring in the final and bringing home a winners medal. Vive le France.

Forgot Gaston.

Score: 0

de Heiligen paard 101 says...10:41am Tue 24 Jun 14

Rising_Son wrote…

el caballo santos101 wrote…

Well if yoshi gets knocked out of the cup as well we will be left with just one saint left in the competition, and thats a player we thought had missed out. Allez les bleus ;-). Come on Morgan you will get the chance to show the world what we saints fans already know, that you are a true world class player! Can just see you now scoring in the final and bringing home a winners medal. Vive le France.

Forgot Gaston.

not at all RS, Uruguay will lose to Italy and England will lose to costa rica, this will put Uruguay and gaston out well before Yoshi plays later on. therefore if Yoshi gets knocked out we will be left with just morgan. sorry I was getting ahead of myself a bit. even if England win Uruguay will still get knocked out if Italy win. I did forget to change my login name on my tablet though, hence the reprise of el cabalo santos!

[quote][p][bold]Rising_Son[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]el caballo santos101[/bold] wrote:
Well if yoshi gets knocked out of the cup as well we will be left with just one saint left in the competition, and thats a player we thought had missed out. Allez les bleus ;-). Come on Morgan you will get the chance to show the world what we saints fans already know, that you are a true world class player! Can just see you now scoring in the final and bringing home a winners medal. Vive le France.[/p][/quote]Forgot Gaston.[/p][/quote]not at all RS, Uruguay will lose to Italy and England will lose to costa rica, this will put Uruguay and gaston out well before Yoshi plays later on. therefore if Yoshi gets knocked out we will be left with just morgan. sorry I was getting ahead of myself a bit.
even if England win Uruguay will still get knocked out if Italy win.
I did forget to change my login name on my tablet though, hence the reprise of el cabalo santos!de Heiligen paard 101

Rising_Son wrote…

el caballo santos101 wrote…

Well if yoshi gets knocked out of the cup as well we will be left with just one saint left in the competition, and thats a player we thought had missed out. Allez les bleus ;-). Come on Morgan you will get the chance to show the world what we saints fans already know, that you are a true world class player! Can just see you now scoring in the final and bringing home a winners medal. Vive le France.

Forgot Gaston.

not at all RS, Uruguay will lose to Italy and England will lose to costa rica, this will put Uruguay and gaston out well before Yoshi plays later on. therefore if Yoshi gets knocked out we will be left with just morgan. sorry I was getting ahead of myself a bit. even if England win Uruguay will still get knocked out if Italy win. I did forget to change my login name on my tablet though, hence the reprise of el cabalo santos!

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